Jewish Communities Thank Kosheen For Gig Cancellation

The Federation of Jewish Communities in Serbia and Montenegro have thanked Kosheen for their “high consciousness” in cancelling a gig at a former Nazi concentration camp.

The band had been scheduled to perform at Staro Sajmiste in central Belgrade on Saturday (November 3rd) but cancelled the gig after learning about the venues past history.

In a letter to the band’s label, Aleksandar Necak, the Federation’s President, said that the Jewish community “highly appreciate your decision and fully understand the situation in which you were brought without your knowledge.”

During World War II, nearly all of Belgrade's 8,000 Jews were killed at Sajmiste.

Efraim Zuroff, director of the Simon Wiesenthal Centre, said that had the concert gone ahead it would have been viewed as "a heartless insult to the memory of the victims of the Nazis."

Gigwise has been handed a full copy of Necak’s letter, which can be read below:

From the Serbian media we have learned that you have cancelled your performance in the Posejdon hall at Sajmiste.
We highly appreciate your decision and fully understand the situation in which you were brought without your knowledge.
Let us express our gratitude for such a decision which reflects your high consciousness and reverence toward the victims (of Serbian, Roma and Jewish origin) of this former infamous camp in Serbia.

Hoping to listen to you in the near future in some other more appropriate space in Belgrade,

With best regards and respect,

Sincerely,
President,
Aleksandar Necak